New Mexico Public Education Department Charter Schools ...

New Mexico Public Education Department Charter Schools Division

2013 New Charter School Application Kit Part B. Executive Summary

Executive Summary

2013

Part B: Executive Summary

This section should be two to three pages long and address in a narrative form the following points:

Your proposed school's name and a description of the targeted student population including key demographic data (academic performance, home languages, special populations) and the targeted geographical area of the proposed school.

Where the targeted students are most likely being educated currently and why they are expected to choose the proposed charter school for their future educational needs.

Evidence that there is a community need for a school of this nature in the location proposed. Note: NMSA 1978 ? 22-8B-6(L)(5) provides, "[a] chartering authority may approve, approve with conditions or deny an application. A chartering authority may deny an application if...the application is otherwise contrary to the best interests of the charter school's projected students, the local community or the school district in whose geographic boundaries the charter school applies to operate." Evidence of community need is required. Specific data and evidence is required in Section V. Therefore, specific statistical information does not need to be provided here.

The key innovative and unique programmatic features the school will implement to accomplish its mission (non-traditional school year, longer school day, partner organizations, etc.).

How you project that the school will be more effective than the schools currently serving the targeted student population, or the founder(s)' plans to improve student achievement and exceed the academic performance of these existing public schools in the targeted service area. Provide a brief summary of any data you have to support this assumption.

The founders of the proposed school, their background, and expertise. If different from the list provided above, the founding governing board.

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To complete the following form, click on the text box and begin to type.

Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Proposed School Name: Health Sciences Academy

Proposed School Area: Gadsden Independent School District, Dona Ana County, New Mexico

Description of Targeted School Population ?The demographic characteristics of the school district in which HSA will be located are described in the table below. When compared with New Mexico State averages, 97% of students are of Hispanic origin as compared to 59% statewide; 44% are classified as ELL students compared with 14% statewide. Perhaps most significantly, 100%, or 14,087 students, are classified as economically disadvantaged as compared to 68% across New Mexico.

(See Appendix U (PAGE 1) B. Executive Summary for Table: Demographic Characteristics of Targeted School)

Demographic Data ? With regard to the small towns and unincorporated rural areas where the charter school will be located: Dona Ana County is home to 37 designated Colonia Communities, more than any other county in the state of New Mexico. The majority of the residents--67% in Dona Ana County are Latinos, primarily of Mexican descent. In Colonia the percentage is much higher. Dona Ana County is the 5th Poorest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States and 30% of the county population has completed less than eight years of school. (); the median income of families living in Dona Ana County is 18% lower than the state average of New Mexico-- 35 vs 43 thousand dollars per year. Fifty-two percent speak a language other than English at home.

Academic Performance of Area Students ? GISD middle and high schools reported levels of academic proficiency below state and national norms in 2010-11. In assessing the degree of educational excellence, based on AYP scores, not one of the district's middle schools, and only one of the district's high schools (Chaparral High School which is in Corrective Action) have met AYP goals in reading; none of the middle schools or the three district high schools reached AYP goals in math. (gisd.k12.nm.us / Appendix T)

Community Need ? Dona Ana County is known as a "medically underserved area", and "Dental Health Professional Shortage Area". Teen births, for girls ages 15 to 19, are 61 per thousand -the highest in New Mexico. Demand for workers in healthcare professions, including college bound high school graduates skilled in math and science are increasing. The NM DOL projected," the health care and the social assistance sector [will be] the second fastest growing

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sector within the economy by 2016. Healthcare employment is projected to increase to 127,020 by 2016, adding over 25,400 jobs. The number of healthcare professionals in New Mexico, especially in the GISD, is far below the national average. More than 75% of physicians in New Mexico are trained out of state, and a chronic nursing shortage exists. The recent ACT survey of New Mexico's Distribution of Planned Educational Majors for All Students' career aspirations confirmed that a career in health science is the top career choice for the greatest number of New Mexico students. (Appendix T, 2011, Table 4.1 page 26.) Many southern New Mexico healthcare educators and professionals are interested in collaborating with HSA because they view health education and healthy lifestyles to be complementary to their educational outreach.

Key Innovative and Unique Program Features

Health Science Career Pathways ? The first innovative feature of HSA will be the focus of preparing students for health science careers. All program components will be addressed within the context of the healthcare field presenting coursework in an interdisciplinary context which makes connections for students between the skills and their significance in their future careers. HSA will prepare students to be college ready in the pathways that lead to careers in healthcare, health science and health education. Internship opportunities with our healthcare partners will offer HSA students unique access to mentorships with healthcare professionals, and hands on learning opportunities that complement classroom academics.

Evening Program ? HSA will be the singular public educational entity in the district that will offer adult students an opportunity to complete their high school diploma in an Evening Program. As the demand for workers in healthcare professions continue to outpace employment opportunities for other workers, offering adults from the military or displaced workers, a second chance to complete their education will have great benefits to the individual, as well as to employers in the local community. HSA will make a concerted effort to encourage returning veterans to enroll our evening program.

Why HSA Will Be More Effective Than Area Schools ? GISD does not currently provide a coherent link between academic coursework and real-world experiences. HSA addresses this need by partnering with area hospitals and clinics to provide students with healthcare internships that complement classroom academics. Research indicates that motivated and mission driven students are more likely to achieve higher attendance rates, perform better on tests, and complete assignments. When students see the connection between academic rigor and opportunities to prepare and enter careers of their choice, they are more likely to achieve and overcome obstacles in the pathway to success.

HSA Founders /Governing Board Members Expertise

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Brenda Avila, MA, is a Governing Board member and founder. A US citizen born in Mexico, Brenda understands the economic, social and cultural issues of our target population. Brenda was the Assistant Director and a founder of Escuela Luz del Mundo (a privately funded middle school in Albuquerque). She also served as the school's main parent and teacher liaison for Spanish speaking families. Ms. Avila earned a BA in Media Arts from UNM, and a MA in Film and Digital Media from University of California-Santa Cruz.

Mary Elena Carter, MBA, is a Governing Board member and serves as the Executive Director of the Women's Intercultural Center in Anthony, NM. She has been responsible for increasing the participant base from 700 to over 3,400 participants. Mary served as a Curriculum and Instruction grant writer for the El Paso ISD, where she helped secure in excess of $3 million in private, corporate and federal funds for the district. Prior to her work at EPISD, Ms. Carter was a consultant and grant writer for the El Paso County Health and Environmental District. Ms. Carter earned her BS and MBA degrees from the University of Phoenix.

Nancy Duhigg, PA, is a Governing Board member and founder. A native of New Mexico, Ms. Duhigg attended high school in Las Cruces, and earned her BS in Mechanical Engineering from UASLP - San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Nancy's ability to blend cultural, social and professional knowledge in a community where she grew up is a valued asset to the founders and board members. She will receive a Physician Assistant degree from St. Francis University in 2014.

Tara Marie Ibarbo, RN, CTR, is a Governing Board member. She is the Clinical Research Data Coordinator and the Lead Certified Tumor Registrar at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) Cancer Center in Las Cruces. Tara has served as Chair of the Las Cruces Hispano Chamber of Commerce Health Committee, Coordinator of the MMC Cancer Youth Support Group. Ms. Ibarbo is a member of the New Mexico Nurses Association, the Tumor Registry Association of New Mexico, and TRIO-southern New Mexico Chapter. Tara received her BS degree in Nursing from NMSU.

Raphael Nevins, MBA, is a Governing Board member and founder. For more than thirty years he has lived and worked in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe. He has developed important collaborative civic, educational, and healthcare alliances and partnerships with Borderplex Alliance (southern NM and El Paso), the Diocese of Las Cruces, Dona Ana Community College, El Paso Children's Hospital, First Nations Community Healthsource, (Albuquerque), Futures For Children (NM statewide), La Clinical de Familia (Dona Ana County), NMSU College of Health Sciences, and the Women's Intercultural Center (Anthony). He has been instrumental in partnering with Faces to the Future program, offering healthcare internships to at risk high school students in southern New Mexico and El Paso hospitals. Mr. Nevins has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, and MBA from New York University.

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